The Incredibly Musical Life of Octavia Philharmonica & Vinyl Scratch

by The Autumn Princess

Blame It on The Rain

~ Chapter Eight ~

~ Blame It on The Rain ~

---

Octavia rolled her eyes as Vinyl went on and on about the mare she was oh-so-in-love with. This was the fourth mare in four days that Vinyl swore she was going to marry. As much as it hurt to listen to Vinyl blabber on and on about the astounding beauty of other ponies, it had become quite easy to not take her seriously.

For her friend's sake, Octavia was trying to pay attention, giving the occasional smile and nod, to keep Vinyl smiling. However, it was fuel to the fire of her rant.

"Are you even listening?"

"Of course I am!" Octavia lied quickly.

"Then what's her name?" Vinyl asked. Octavia hesitated. Was it Snappy Scoop? No, that was three days ago. High Spirits? No, she had moved back to Cloudsdale.

"Sunny Rays?" Octavia tried. Vinyl groaned.

"You weren't paying attention at all, were you?"

"Vinyl, you fall in love every other week. How am I supposed to keep up?"

"Well, you're my best friend," the unicorn mumbled. "I thought you would be happy for me, that's all."

"Where in that conversation did I say I wasn't happy for you? I'm always happy for you, when you're happy." It was partially true. She wanted Vinyl to be happy, of course, but she wanted Vinyl to be happy with her, not somepony else. "What's her name, Vinyl?"

"Lyra Heartstrings." Vinyl perked up, now that the conversation had returned to the object of her affections.

"She's in our Music Theory class, you know? She sits behind you, actually. She's so cute!"

"You mean the weird unicorn who rambles on about the other creatures?" Octavia questioned, raising an eyebrow.

Vinyl rolled her eyes. "It's fascinating, Tavi," she protested. "Not weird. She's scientific and is curious about the worlds beyond Equestria. I mean, she's pretty and smart and she likes music! Why would I not like her?"

"Have you ever actually talked to her?"

"Of course I have. I asked her for a pen yesterday, and today, I told her I liked her manecut."

Octavia held back the urge to facehoof. Then again, she could give Vinyl some slack on that one. Not only was their class harsh, but she was reluctant to introducing herself to ponies one at a time. She was better with crowds, always had been. Still, this was a repetitive thing - she never got to know her crush. Ever.

"Does she even know your name?" Octavia asked.

"Yeah!" Vinyl said, with a wide smile. "She even gave me a cute nickname, she calls me Vinnie! Isn't that adorable?"

"That's... that's great, Vinyl." It was hard for her to find enthusiasm this time around.

She looked into her tea, and idly stirred the spoon around, as Vinyl pushed up her glasses, continuing on with her rambling.

"You know, maybe if I ask her out, you could take that coltfriend of yours out and we could double date," she offered, levitating her macaroon off of the plate and taking a bite of it.

Octavia let out a groan. "Vinyl, Frederic is not my coltfriend," she mumbled.

Vinyl's raspy laughter echoed throughout the small university coffeehouse, and she shook her head playfully. "Ok, Tavi, whatever you say," she teased.

"I'm serious," Octavia argued, as she picked up her mug and took a sip of her now cold beverage.

If only you knew, she thought.

"Tavi, you and that stallion never do anything apart!"

"He's my friend. I am allowed to have friends outside of you, Vinyl."

"Yeah, yeah, I know," Vinyl said, with a roll of her eyes. However, she immediately brightened up as she noticed a certain somepony enter the cafe. "Oh my gosh, it's her!" Suddenly, she got loud - like always. "Hey! Heartstrings! Get over here!"

Octavia turned her head and, sure enough, the mint unicorn in question was approaching their table.

"Hey, Vinnie! And this must be Octavia! Vinnie has told me so much about you!" She stuck out a hoof, and Octavia hesitated before touching her hoof to Lyra's.

"It's lovely to meet you, Lyra. Vinyl has told me just as much about you."

"Has she?" Lyra smiled.

Well, Octavia couldn't deny what Vinyl had said - Lyra was sort of pretty. Her voice rang out like a bell. And even though she was here for only a few seconds, she already had her gaze plastered on Vinyl, looking at her almost lovingly.

"Y'know, I've been meaning to get to know you both," she spoke up. "I mean, you seem so interesting."

Vinyl let out a nervous laugh, and a blush that matched the color of her eyes spread across her cheeks. "Aw, c'mon, Heartstrings, we both know you're the interesting one," she remarked.

Octavia wanted to puke. This was sickening.

"Please, everypony and their mother plays the lyre these days. I'm as far from interesting as it gets. But cellos and turntables, now that is something to be admired. In fact, I was kinda thinking about going into theatre, you know? I mean, I could bring it back into style, just like with my foreign creature studies."

Vinyl nodded. "Have you figured out the name for those things?" she questioned.

Lyra shook her head. "Not yet," she replied. "I mean, I don't know what I'm doing wrong. I have all of the info - did you know that they eat meat?" She wrinkled her nose and shuddered. "Don't get me wrong, I find them fascinating, but sometimes, they're disturbing."

This sight before me is disturbing, Octavia thought, as she bit her lip, and picked up her saddlebags, getting out of her seat.

"Hey, Tavi, where ya going?" Vinyl asked.

"I have a final to study for," the earth pony said. It wasn't a total lie - the test wasn't for another few weeks, but anything to get away from this.

Vinyl frowned. "Aw, but-"

She was cut off by Lyra, who let a light squeal. "By the way, Vinnie, didn't you say that you did theatre when you were a filly? We should totally sign up for the class together!" she interrupted.

Octavia gave a small smile that felt forced and turned around, walking off to leave the other ponies in peace.

They wouldn't miss her after a while. They would be too caught up in whatever conversation they started having. Octavia didn't mind too much. Sure, it was a bit unfortunate that she couldn't have Vinyl to herself, but at least she didn't have to watch the yuck-fest that was Vinyl mooning over Lyra.

Octavia stepped out of the cafe, and began walking along campus, towards the dorms, when all of a sudden, she felt raindrops falling on her head. Oh, how wonderful. This couldn't get any worse, could it?

She figured the best she could do was go back to the dorm and wait for Vinyl to come back. After all, she couldn't exactly go anywhere else with this rain.

Octavia let out a groan, and dashed back to the cafe, standing underneath the awning. However, her curiosity took the best of her, and she couldn't help but look through the window... and her heart broke at what she saw.

There was Vinyl and Lyra, sitting in the booth, laughing and smiling, happier than ever.

The rain was picking up. Too late to go back to the dorm. The view inside was like a trainwreck. Horrible, but she couldn't tear her eyes from the sight. She couldn't help but wish that was her in that seat. Of course, it never would be, would it? Vinyl was, simply put, the most oblivious pony out there. She couldn't have possibly known how Octavia felt. Even if she did, the silly unicorn was hung up on Lyra. She wouldn't look away for two seconds.

Octavia released a sigh and wiped her cheeks.

...she wasn't sure if they were raindrops or tears.

~ la fin ~

Author's Note:

HEY LOOK WE'RE ALIVE

...and we brought you sads

...sorry?

Comments

[Shadow_Wolf]

Whoa.... Tough break for Tavi :'(

[TheOriginalDash]

Oh my goodness. This title, though... I do believe you were making a reference to the He Is We song? Even if you weren't, this short I wonderful. Thank you.

[EddWar]

MOAR
please

[The Batmane of equestria]

NO MOAR SADS! BRINGS US HAPPYS

[Eclipse Moonshine]

Moar...

[goldenshadowfire]

The story was OK but it had more sad chapters than happy ones so that's why I didn't like it that just my opinion I can't speak for everypony else